Stories from Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Four people received injuries in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 60, two miles east of Monett at 9 a.m. on Nov. 25. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Michael A. McCullough, 50, of Aurora, was driving west in a 1983 Chevrolet S10 when his pickup crossed the center line, striking a 2001 Buick LeSabre, driven by James C. ...

A Thanksgiving dinner, in the style of Linn Thornton's free Christmas dinners, will be offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28 at Tom Wolfe Memorial Post #4207, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW members and the Ladies Auxiliary will serve a meal with turkey and ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans, rolls, dessert and beverage...

sports@monett-times.com The goal of putting an artificial field turf at Burl Fowler Stadium took a major step toward realization at the Monett R-1 School Board meeting on Nov. 21. Monett Superintendent Brad Hanson informed the board that a small group of citizens had made a "significant" financial commitment to purchase and install the state-of-the-art playing surface...

times-news@monett-times.com Plans for the 29th annual Christmas Day dinner in Monett are moving forward. This year's event will be held "In remembrance of Linn Thornton," founder of the event, who died on June 2. Thornton's son and daughter-in-law, Ernie and Leta Thornton, are working with Thornton's widow, Anna, in organizing the event. The dinner is again planned for the family life center at the First United Methodist Church, located at 1600 N. Central in Monett...

times-news@monett-times.com A funding shift for the Monett Area Workshop has prompted a re-examination of the board's finances and how to approach future funding. Money to cover transportation of handicapped clients to Monett for jobs has historically come from the tax boards for the developmentally disabled. Boards in Barry and Lawrence counties have provided around $150,000 a year, based on the number of clients served...

times-news@monett-times.com Bids will be opened on Dec. 19 for the proposed new additions to the Purdy High School campus. School board members reviewed plans for the proposal with architect Jared Younglove at their Nov. 18 meeting. According to Anna Marie Erwin, board secretary, the proposed construction will be bid as two projects: renovating the north entrance to the gym and making changes to the cafeteria, which involves moving the concession stand and public bathrooms plus adding a new library on the west side of the school's central hallway, replacing classrooms located in trailers.. ...

The 10th annual Monett Festival of Lights opens today, Nov. 27 at Monett's South Park and remains open nightly through Dec. 30. New additions to the seasonal lighting displays include the one pictured above, in memory of the late Monett teacher Tom Crawford. ...

Countryside Christian Church in Monett will hold a Living Nativity on the church grounds from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7. Area churches will participate in the effort. For more information, call 737-1578. Monett High School will have a parent support meeting at 5:30 p.m. ...

jwhitlock@monett-times.com One person was fatally injured in a single vehicle crash on Highway 86 in Newtonia at 4:50 a.m. on Nov. 26. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kevin L. Haynie, 32, of Purdy, was driving west in a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix when it traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. Haynie was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash...

The overall winner at the Purdy Talent Show on Nov. 16 was Katherine Wise, for sixth grade and above. She sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Misérables." More photos from the show appear on page 17.

jwhitlock@monett-times.com Arvest Bank presented the Monett Community Kitchen with a check for $558.52 on Nov. 15. Arvest Bank's 1 Million Meal initiative was part of a two-month long campaign to bring awareness of hunger at a local level. Arvest associates Patrick Scott, Cindy Stephens, Tina Felder and Pam Evens presented the to check to Dr. Stephen Stidham, president of the Community Kitchen, who accepted the check on the food banks behalf...

sports@monett-times.com The Monett Lady Cubs basketball team fell 47-19 to the Willard Lady Tigers on Nov. 25 to open the season. A person's normal reaction would be to look at the final score and think that the Lady Cubs were run out of the gym. But that wasn't the case...

sports@monett-times.com Three southwest Missouri teams, including two from the Big 8 Conference, vie for state football championships on Nov. 29 and 30. Lamar, Class 2; Seneca, Class 3; and Webb City, Class 4 will attempt to bring home the hardware in the annual title tilts...

sports@monett-times.com Over 200 drivers and racing fans attended as the Monett Speedway honored its top drivers of 2013 on Nov. 24 at its annual awards banquet held at the Monett City Park Casino. Attendees were treated to a meal as the drivers were given awards in the Late Models, USRA A-Modifieds, B-Mods, Pro-4, Pure Stocks and Factory Stock divisions...

The demolition of the Jumping-Jacks building on Front Street in Monett represents a major part of Monett's history and milestones in the town's growth. The photo above shows the Martin Hotel, built in 1909 in 1947, at the time the conversion to the shoe factory began. ...

Rosemary Tate, age 63, of Pierce City, died on Nov. 23 at Cox Hospital South in Springfield. No services are planned. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home of Pierce City.

Billy Edward Maples, age 83, of Shell Knob, died at 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home of Shell Knob.

Kati Renee Franklin, age 37, of Green Forest, Ark., died at 11:19 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 at Spoken Word Midway Full Gospel Church in Green Forest, Ark. Cremation arrangements were under direction of Fohn Funeral Home of Shell Knob...

Rhonda L. Manthei, age 55, of Eagle Rock, died at 8:15 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Cassville. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

Curtis Allen Laney, Sr., age 55, of Golden, died at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 24. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 29 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Cassville. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday at Fohn Funeral Home...

Lloyd E. Bonsack, Jr., age 82, of Cassville, died at 12:05 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, of Cassville.

Two people received minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 37 and C in Purdy at 4:25 a.m. on Nov. 26. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Damon M. Phillips, 21, of Purdy, was driving east on Highway C in a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix, shown above, when he pulled onto Highway 37, into the path of a northbound 1995 Nissan Pathfinder, driven by Laura A. ...

Purdy High School junior Katherine Wise will perform as a member of the 2014 All-State Choir at Lake of the Ozarks, held on Jan. 22 through Jan. 25, 2014. Approximately 130-area singers auditioned for the choir, but only 16 were selected to perform. ...

The Purdy High School Speech Department recently competed in the Diamond Novice Speech and Debate Tournament on Oct. 25. Pictured above, from left, are: Xena Smith, who placed fifth in dramatic interpretation and Kaden Propps, who placed third in humorous interpretation. "I am incredibly proud of these two individuals. This was their first tournament, and they did awesome," said Michelle Hilburn, Purdy High School speech and debate coach...

Purdy Middle School has announced eighth grade students for the first quarter 100 percent Club. Students who complete all assignments in core classes, earn no lower than a C-, avoid detention, in-school suspension and out-of-school suspensions for the entire quarter were eligible. ...

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for Nov. 11. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: Maddox Dodd, Gunnar Creed and Mikaela Guerra. Back row: Evan Witt, Frank Hurtado, Bulmaro Ortiz and Bree Burton. Not present for the picture was Nevaeh Arehart...

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for Nov. 18. Pictured in the front row, from right, are: Briseis Ruiz, Emma Hunt and Maily Nguyen. Back row: Elizabeth Snarey, Giovany Almarez, Zander Crouch and Andrew Greenlee. Not present for the picture were: Meghan Long and Juan Guaderrama...

Purdy High School officials recently released the names of students who achieved the first quarter honor roll. Students are listed below by grade and achievement level. A Honor Roll Seniors: Micaela Adams, Viridiana Aldava, Macey Breeding, Deana Burch, Brent Cornman, Dana Cunningham, Michael Dent, Esmeranda Granados, Kaylynn Harkey, Colten Henderson, Jacob Henderson, Jennifer Hernandez, Ruben Ibarra, Ashley Lowery, Tanner Marshall, Kelton Mattingly, Clarissa Nunez, Jesus Perez, Megan Schilly, Jared Smith and Reese Veith.. ...

Purdy Middle School has announced seventh grade students for the first quarter 100 percent Club. Students who complete all assignments in core classes, earn no lower than a C-, avoid detention, in-school suspension and out-of-school suspensions for the entire quarter were eligible. ...

Purdy Middle School has announced seventh grade students for the first quarter 100 percent Club. Students who complete all assignments in core classes, earn no lower than a C-, avoid detention, in-school suspension and out-of-school suspensions for the entire quarter were eligible. ...

Monett-based Jack Henry and Associates has announced its Symitar division had won 35 new core credit union clients during the 2013 fiscal year. Three of the credit unions selecting Symitar's Episys core platform have assets exceeding $1 billion. The selection positionied Symitar as the primary technology partner with 76, or 39 percent, of the 196 credit unions with assets of more than $1 billion...

David Sater, 29th District state senator, recently received the Missouri Coalition of Children's Agencies' (MCCA) 2013 Champion for Children Award for his work in the Missouri General Assembly on behalf of Missouri's children. "Senator Sater is a tireless advocate for Missouri's children in the State Capitol," said MCCA executive director Mary Chant. ...

The American Red Cross awarded Marilyn Bell a plaque for donating 10 gallons of blood at a recent Monett blood drive. In the picture, from left, are Bell and Donna Beckett, American Red Cross chairman for Monett. The plaque acknowledged Bell's outstanding support for the American Red Cross. Bell also received a gift bag from Community National Bank in recognition of her achievement...

USDA extends acreage reporting for certain crops Crop producers now have until Jan. 15, 2014 to report acreage planting for crops that have a Nov. 15 or Dec. 15 deadline for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), without incurring a late-file fee...

Shania Hogan, a member of the Pierce City FFA, earned an individual gold emblem at the National FFA Convention and Expo in Louisville, Ky. Hogan showed in the National FFA Dairy Cattle Handlers Activity. She was one of only 10 exhibitors to earn a gold emblem for exhibitors out of the 29 competing, and the only one from Missouri. ...

reporter@monett-times.com Area residents have the opportunity to get their red hats on and celebrate a Hillbilly Christmas Carol, presented by Shell Knob in the Spotlight (S.K.I.T.S.). Performances of this Ozarks version of Dickens' "Christmas Carol" are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7 and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 at the Central Community United Methodist Church auditorium, located on Highway YY in Shell Knob...

reporter@monett-times.com The Environmental Services division of the Lawrence County Health Department inspected 26 area food service establishments during the month of October. Of that group, 18 establishments had critical violations and five had only non-critical violations...